BI to job seekers in China: 'Get required work permits to avoid arrest, detention'
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Tuesday, Oct. 31, warned Filipinos against accepting offers for high-paying jobs in China without securing the proper travel documentation and work permits.
The BI issued the warning after five Filipinos were arrested and detained in China for working without permits. The Filipinos have been repatriated last Oct. 20 and 21.
“The best way to avoid these sad experiences is for you to go through the legal process that migrant workers should follow in applying for overseas jobs,” advised BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco.
“During interviews conducted by members of the Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES), the victims recounted how they were enticed by their recruiters to travel and work in China without securing the required overseas work permits from the government,” the BI said.
“They said they were able to land in various jobs such as hotel housekeeper, caretaker, private tutor, and as household service workers (HSWs),” it said.
It noted that one of the victims narrated “she was made to pose as a nanny by her recruiter to facilitate her departure.”
“She shared how she was overworked and not properly compensated upon arrival in China. She ended up being imprisoned for 70 days after being arrested by Chinese authorities,” it added.